Dr. Ingrid Montes-González

Chemist • Professor • Researcher

Chalcones have been reported to have a broad range of biological activities such as antimalarial, antibacterial, antitumor, antioxidant, antihyperglycemic, and anti-HIV. An enhancement of the antitumor activity has been observed when one of the aromatic rings is replaced with ferrocene, however, the mechanism of action is still uncertain. Therefore, our research explores and chemically modifies the structure of ferrocenyl chalcone-based scaffolds to study their anticancer and antioxidant activities. This study will also yield information regarding possible mechanisms of action. Among the proposed modifications to the ferrocenyl chalcone-based scaffolds is the incorporation of heterocyclic moieties. This can be afforded by either introducing a heterocyclic aromatic substituent or functionalizing the α,βunsaturated system. Another modification is to form ammonium or pyridinium salts to increase water solubility. All compounds are extensively characterized by Infrared, 1H, and 13C-NMR spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectrophotometry, single-crystal x-ray diffraction, and cyclic voltammetry. Antioxidant activity is studied applying DPPH radical scavenging assay and antitumor by MTS colorimetric cell proliferation assay.

Characterization

Enone Funtionalization Derivates
Heterocyclic Derivates
Cationic derivates
Polymers
Natural products analogues

Ferrocene Molecule
Ferrocene

Explore Bioactivity

Neurological diseases
Radical scavenging
Bacteria
Malaria
Cancer

Montes’ Laboratory Contributions

Synthesis and characterization of ferrocenyl chalcones and derivatives, explore bioactivity, and improve methodologies by applying green chemistry principles.

Ferrocene and its derivatives constitute versatile and interesting scaffolds for the global chemical enterprise due to its multiple applications that range from biomedical to materials science. Ferrocene has proven to be an excellent bioisostere that improves bioactivity, such as anticancer, antimalarial, antioxidant, antimicrobial, low cytotoxicity, and high lipophilicity. Ferrocenyl derivatives such as chalcones, stilbenes, aromatic ethyne, and cannabidiol analogues, are the leading compounds in our research for the syntheses and characterization as well as their potential applications. These derivatives have been synthesized employing synthetic methodologies such as Claisen-Schmidt, Sonogashira, Heck, and other well know reactions, with moderate to good yields and applying a greener approach when possible. Among these derivatives, our interest is mainly focused in ferrocenyl chalcones as a framework for further derivatization. Some of the explored modifications consist on the incorporation of different substituents in the aromatic rings, heterocyclic aromatic moieties, coumarin, adamantane, urea and thiourea hybrides, among others, into the ferrocenyl chalcone core. Another modification explored is the formation of ammonium or pyridinium salts to increase water solubility. Studied ferrocenyl derivatives exhibit remarkable stability, physical, and electrochemical properties. These factors have led the approaches for them to be precursors of biologically active compounds (cancer, bacteria, malaria, and neurobiological diseases). Moreover, other potential applications include molecular materials, perovskite solar cells, and polymers.

 

Phone

(787) 764-0000 Ext. 88502

Postal Address

University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus
College of Natural Sciences
Department of Chemistry
17 University Ave STE 1701
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00925-2537

Email

ingrid.montes2@upr.edu

Physical Address

University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus
College of Natural Sciences
Department of Chemistry
Building Phase I
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